Automatic fork-tripping means.



s. w. BADMAN.

AUTOMATIC PORK TRIPBING MEANS.

APPLIOATIOI FILED APlf. 13, 1910. I

' Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

SCOTT W. BADMAN, 0F CONTINENTAL, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC FORK-TRIPPING MEANS.

ceases.

certain new and useful Automatic Fork- Tripping Means; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappcrtains to make and use the same, ref erence being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to hay forks of the class commonly used forconveying hay or the like from a wagon to a hay mow or other dumpingplace, and has reference more particularly to trip means for one of twoforks when used in conjunction.

The object of my invention is the provision, in combination with a pairof hay forks which are connected for conjoint use, of simple, eflicientand inexpensive means which, upon the release of the weight of a loadfrom one fork, is automatically actuated to trip the other fork andrelease the load therefrom, thus simplifying the handling and operationof double forks of this nature.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, and apreferred embodiment of the same illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one fork of the set. Fig. 2 is a similarview of the other fork of the set, and Fig. 3 is a view of the forksconnected and in operative engagement with a load of hay.

Referring to the drawings, 1 and 2 designate forks of the double harpoontype, each load of the fork 1 is released.

of the prongs of which carries a pivoted spur 3 adjacent its free endand is connected by a link 3 to a trip-lever 4E, pivoted to the prongadjacent its inner end, as is customary in forks of this type.

To the inner ends of the trip-levers 4 of each fork are attached ends ofa trip-rope 5, which rope in the case of the fork 1 passes down throughan eye 6 carried by the crossbar 7 in the usual manner. In the case ofthe fork 2, however, the trip-ropes 5 of the levers 41 pass down undersheaves 8 carried by the cross-bar 7 of the fork and then extendupwardly and anchor to a pulley-hook Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 13, 1910.

Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

Serial No. 555,249.

9 carrying the forks or to any other suitable anchoring means.

A cam sheave or disk 10 is suspended from the pulley-hook 9 or otherdraft means by a clevis member 11 and has a chain or other suitablemeans 12 passing thereover and attached at its opposite ends to theupper or looped ends of the forks 1 and 2, as indicated. The chain 12 issecured to the cam 10, as at 13, to cause a positive turning of the camon its axis when the chain is pulled in one direction or the other.

' In using the forks with my invention as sociated therewith, the forksare each forced into the hay to be conveyed at suitable distances apartwit-h the greatest radius of the cam 10 disposed in the direction of thefork 1, as indicated. In this position the triprope 5 of the fork 2,which rope is anchored to a convenient part of the draft means, such asthe pulley-hook 9, is drawn sub stantially taut, as indicated. When theload has been conveyed to its destination the trip-rope 5 of the fork 1is pulled to actuate the trip-levers 4 to release the load in the usualmanner. Upon the fork 1 being relieved of its load the weight of theload of the fork 2 causes the cam to turn from the full line position tothe dotted line position which permits a lengthening of the portion ofthe chain 12 attached to the fork 2 and effects a consequent pulling ofthe associated trip-rope 5 to trip the load holding parts and releasethe load from the fork 2, as is apparent. Care should be taken in theuse of this apparatus that the weight of the portion of the load engagedby the fork 2 is not sufficient to overcome the weight of the portion ofthe load engaged by fork 1, for if such is the case the chain 12 will bedrawn to its limit of movement toward the fork 2 and the fork 2 trippedbefore the 141 designates a pin which may be attached to a cord, forinstance the trip-cord 5 of the folk 1, and inserted through a hole ofthe cam 10 in position to coact with the clevis 11 to positively lockthe chain against a tripping movement.

It is apparent that I have provided a simple and efficient loadreleasing means for one or more forks of a set which is automaticallyactuated by the weight of the load of such forks when one fork of theset is relieved of its load, and also that such means is not restrictedto use in conection with forks i of the type shown but may be used inconnec= tion with any form of fork having load v engaging and releasingmeans associated therewith. r

I wish it understood that my invention is n'otlimited to any specificconstruction or arrangement of the parts, except in so far as suchlimitations are specified in the claims. V v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is r o V tached to said means at oppositesides of '1. The combination of a draft member, means carried by suchmember for longitudinal movements relative thereto, forks atits point ofattachment to said member,

reach of said forks having load securing and releasing mechanismassociated therewith,

manually operative means for tripping such V mechanisms of the forks onone side of the 7 draft member, and means automatically 'each havingload securing and releasing "mechamsm assoclated llllQI'GWltlhlIlGflIlSconnecting the forks and draft means adapted to permit a movement of aportion of such forks away from the draft means when the remainder ofsuch forks are relieved of a load and trip means attached to theloadsecuring and releasing means of the forks- Vwhich are movable awayfrom the draft means when the other forks are relieved of their loadsand operative to trip such load releasing means upon such movement ofsaid forks. r 1 .7

3. The combination ofdraft means having I a flexible member attachedther-eto for relative longitudinal movements, forks attached 4. Thecombination of draft to the'opposite ends of such member, and loadtripping means attached to one of such forks and automaticallyoperative-upon a longitudinal movement of said member'in one directionrelative to the draft means to release a load from such fork.

means, .a

p pairof load engaging members, an element i attached to the draft meansand connecting (a lies of this patent may be obtained fo r from.

said members, such element being capable of longitudinal movementsrelatlve to the draft means, and means associated with one of suchmembers for actuating it to release an engaged load when said elementmoves 1ongitudinally in one direction relative to the draft means; ,7

5. The combination of draft means, a

pair of load engaging members, a cam carried by the draftlmeans, aflexible part connecting said members and operating over such cam forlongitudinal movements relative to the draft member, and meansconnecting the draft means and one of said members, such means beingautomatically operative to release theassociated member from its loadwhen said flexible part moves in one direction relative to the draftmember.

6. The combination of a draft member, a

pair of hay forks, a cam"revolnbly carried by the draft member, aflexible part working over such cam and connecting said forks, loadengaging and releasing means associated with each fork, trip meansconnecting said draft means and the load engaging and releasing means ofone fork and operative to trip suchmeans when the associated fork movesaway from the draft member upon a release of the load from the otherfork, and mutually controlled means associated with the other fork forreleasing the load there- '7. The combination of a draft member, apliable element carried by and longitudinally movable relative to saiddraft mem ber, hay forks carried by said element at opposite endsthereof,said forks each having load holding and releasing means, meansfor manually tripping the load holding means of one fork and meansconnecting the draft member and the tripping means of the other fork forautomatically tripping such load holding means when the associated forklowers by gravity upon the release of a load from the other fork.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to thisspecification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SCOTT W. BADMAN.

Witnesses:

J. J. FRY, J. C. ,MADDEN.

five cents ea ch, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.? p

